Jim Leyland is in his eighth season as Tigers manager. / Denny Medley, USA TODAY Sports

by George Sipple, USA TODAY Sports

by George Sipple, USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland says New York is a great place to visit for a few days. He has never wanted any part of managing one of the teams in the Big Apple, though.

"I like New York, but I would not have been able to handle it," Leyland said. "It's too big for me.

"I don't want to come off like I don't like New York, because I love it. I really like the Yankees. I don't know as much about the Mets, although when I managed in Pittsburgh we had some tremendous battles with the New York Mets. Unbelievable battles. We finally caught 'em."

The Tigers began a three-game series against the Mets at Citi Field Friday night.

"I'm going to my favorite restaurant," Leyland said. "For two or three days, I love it. I really do, but it would be too overwhelming for me to be there all the time."

Leyland had a lot of praise for Mets manager Terry Collins.

"What he's doing, I couldn't manage in New York," Leyland said. "I wouldn't be able to handle it. He's handled it very well."

Collins was a Class AAA manager for the Pirates when Leyland managed in Pittsburgh and was eventually brought onto the major league coaching staff. Collins wears the No. 10 in honor of Leyland. Collins got his first opportunity to manage in the major leagues with the Houston Astros in 1993-96. Collins managed the Los Angeles Angels in 1997-99.

Leyland said guys like himself and Collins, who didn't play in the big leagues, start out trying too hard to prove they belong.

"I think the one thing we've both had to overcome is that when you're a name guy, a good player, you generally have to lose the players' respect," Leyland said. "When you're somebody like Terry Collins or myself, you've got to earn the players' respect. So, you don't get a leg up going in."

Leyland said it wasn't just the media attention that would make it impossible for him to manage in New York.

"When I see all them cabs, I get claustrophobic," Leyland said. "I'm kind of a high-strung guy and everything. Riding in those cabs and zooming in and out of traffic in Manhattan and people walking and you about hit somebody every two blocks. It's just too fast for me."